Container and spout construction



Feb. 16, 1937. G. o. CONNER CONTAINER AND SPOUT QONSTRUCTION 7 Filed Oct. 1, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Feb. 16, G O NNE 2,070,783

CONTAINER AND SPOUT CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 1, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 16, 1937.

G. o. CONNEF2 CONTAINER AND SPOUT CONSTRUCTION Filed on. 1, 1935 a. Sheets-$het s INVENTOR O. aw-

Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER aNn SPOUT CONSTRUCTION Guy 0. Conner, Wheeling, W. Va., assignor to Wheeling Steel Corporation, Wheeling, W. Va a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to containers and spout constructions therefor. It relates more particularly to removable or reversible spouts for containers, such, for example, as for sheet metal containers such as five-gallon pails'and the like. The invention relates still more particularly to certain improved features in the construction and application of spouts for containers, and more particularly removable or reversible spouts.

This application is in part a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 748,868, filed October 18, 1934.

It is customary to fill containers equipped with reversible spouts and to tightly fasten the spouts in place in inverted or inoperative position when the filled containers are initially shipped. This is ordinarily done by means of a tool which engages the spout retaining means to enable fastening thereof more tightly than such means could be fastened by hand without the use of the tool. Subsequently, however, when the customer reverses the spout he only tightens up the spout retaining means by hand.

If only a single gasket or type of gasket is used to effect the seal when the spout retaining means is tightened down by the tool when the containor is initially filled and when the spout is in inoperative position, and also when the spout is placed in operative position and the spout retaining means is simply tightened by hand, the sealing efiiciency obtained is low. If a gasket of relatively hard material is used it properly cooperates with the spout retaining' means when the latter is applied tightly with the tool but does not form a perfect seal when the spout retaining means is fastened by hand. If, on theother hand, a gasket of relatively soft material is used such a gasket will have a high sealing efliciency when the spout retaining means is simply applied by hand but is not adapted for use when the spout retaining means is applied tightly by the use of the tool. In the latter case a gasket of relatively soft material may become ruptured or deformed so as to permit leakage.

I provide a spout construction having a relatively hard and a relatively soft. gasket, the former of which is adapted for use to form the seal between the spout and the container when the spout retaining means is tightly applied by means of a tool, and the latter of which is adapted. for use to form such seal when the spout retaining means is simply applied by hand. I further provide for maintaining the gaskets in place with respect to the spout so that they form a unit with the spout and do not have to be separately handled, positioned and applied, and I still further provide a spout construction and certain combinations of a container and spout which have numerous advantages, among which are low 5 cost, ease of construction, assembly and application and high. efllciency. No attempt is here made to explain all the details, objects and advantages of the invention, and other of these will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments of the invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view oi. a container;

Figure 2 is a partial central vertical crosssectional view to enlarged scale, taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial central vertical crosssectional view similar to Figure 2 but showing the spout in operative position;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the spout retaining means;

Figure 5 is a central vertical cross-sectional view through the spout retaining means;

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a spout closing disc;

Figure '7 is a central vertical cross-sectional view of the spout closing disc shown in Figure 6;

Figure 815 a partial central vertical cross-sectional view through a spout member;

Figure 9 is a partial central vertical cross-sectional view through a spout construction utilizing the spout member shown in Figure 8 and taken on the line IXIX of Figure 10;

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the line x x. of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a partial central vertical cross-sectional view similar to Figure 9 showing a modifled construction;

Figure 12 is a partial top plan view of the construction shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a partial central vertical crosssectional view similar to Figures 9 and 11 showing a further modified construction;

Figure 14 is a partial central vertical crosssectional view to enlarged scale similar to Figure '2 showing a modified construction;

Figure 15 is a partial central vertical crosssectional view to enlarged scale similar to Figure 3 showing the construction of Figure 14 in operative position; and

Figure 16 is a fragmentary central vertical I cross-sectional view to further enlarged scale of a portion of the construction shown in Fig ures 14 and 15.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a container 2 which may, for example, be an ordinary sheet metal -gallon pail having a top 3 seamed thereto at 4. The top 3 has a central portion 5 to which is crimped at 5a a handle clip 9 having trunnions pivotally carrying a handle 8. The handle clip 6 is provided with two eyes 9, for a purpose presently to be described.

, The top 3 has an eccentric downwardly and outwardly inclined depression III in which there is provided a neck member seamed tov the top at l2. The neck member is externally threaded and is adapted to threadedly receive a spout retaining means or cap l3 (Figures 4 and 5) which has a downwardly extending annular threaded skirt l4, an inner downwardly extending annular bearing portion l5 and a central opening It. At the mouth of the neck member N there is an upwardly facing annular sealing portion ll of restricted area which is of slightly larger diameter than the bearing portion l5 of the cap II. The cap I3 is provided with openings 8 having therebetween upstanding lugs |9 for re ception of a tool to tightly apply the cap to the container. The openings I3 also serve, when the cap is screwed down, to receive a sealing wire 20 sealed at 2| passing through two of the openings l9 and through the eyes 9 in the handle clip 6. This prevents rotation of the cap without breaking the seal or sealing wire.

There is provided a spout construction designated generally by reference numeral 22 which as shown is made of sheet metal (see Figures 2, 3, 8, 9 and In the embodiment shown in these flgures the spout is made of a sheet metal blank bent and seamed at 23 and which is somewhat larger at its base than at its lip. end. The lip end of the spout is externally threaded as at 24 to receive an internally threaded sealing cap 25 having a gasket 26 to close and seal the outer end of the spout. Near the base of the spout there is connected with it externally, as by brazing, welding or soldering 21, a flat annular sheet metal flange 29. This flange is formed so as to slide down over the spout to the desired extent and to snugly flt thereabout at a predetermined position near the base of the spout, in which position it is welded, brazed or soldered in place, as above mentioned.

The spout member or blank shown in Figure 8 then has a gasket 29 of relativelysoft material, such, for example, as cork, applied over the base or bottom portion thereof and against the flan'ge 28 and the lower extremity 30 ofthe spout is turned outwardly, as shown in Figure 9, to firmly and positively maintain the gasket in place against the under side of the flange 28. There is positioned over the spout from the lip end thereof and against the face of the flange 28 opposite that against which the gasket 29 lies a second gasket 3| of relatively hard material, such as tightly compressed fiber. This gasket is maintained in place against the flange 28 by' outward projections 32 pressed out of the spout member as shown in Figures 9 and 10. These projections are provided at such a location that they will engage the inner periphery of the annular fiber gasket II and hold the same in place against the flange. The projections 32 may be formed either before or after application of the gasket 3|. The

gasket is sufliciently resilient to enable it to be forced down over the projections 32 and to be held in place thereby. If the projections are formed before application of the gasket 3| they may, if desired, be formed in the original flat blank before it is bent and seamed.

Thus there is provided a unitary sheet metal spout member provided'with a flange having a gasket of relatively soft material against such flange at the base of the spout and a gasket of relatively hard material against the flange opposite the gasket of relatively soft material. Both gaskets are permanently or substantially permanently held in place so as to form a unit with the spout and obviate the necessity of separately handling and applying the gaskets. The gas kets remain in place on the spout member at all times regardless of what position it assumes and cannot be lost or misplaced. Furthermore, they are protected by the flange which lies between them and they assist in protecting each other. The construction is one of great utility, and is exceptionally cheap to manufacture, easy to apply and efficient in service.

In Figure 2 the spout is shown-as being in inoperative position, that is to say, with the spout extending downwardly within the container. When the spout is in'this position the relatively hard gasket 3| lies on the sealing portion I! at the mouth of the container. A sheet metal disc 33 having a raised central portion 34 lies over and closes the opening through. the spout, the periphery of such disc lying on and cooperating with the gasket 29. The bearing portion I!) of the cap i3 bears against the top of the disc 33 at the periphery of the raised portion 34 thereof and when the cap is screwed down it not only forces the gasket 3| against the sealing portion H but also forces the disc 33 against the gasket 29. The spout is applied in this position when the container is initially fllled and the cap is applied tightly by means of a tool which gives an added leverage and enables a tighter application than could be obtained by hand without-the use of the tool; This results in the application of relatively great pressure and causes the sealing portion H to tend to dig into the material of the gasket 3|, but as such gasket. is of relatively hard-material, such as tightly compressed flber, it will withstand the high pressure and form a substantially perfect seal between. the spout and the mouth of the container. Although the same total pressure is applied between the disc 33 and the-gasket 29, this pressure is spread out over a considerably greater area as the bearing portion |5 does not dig directly into the gasket but simply bears against the disc and the disc applies pressure to the gasket over an extended area. 1

If the lip end of the spout is properly sealed it is not necessary to provide for sealing the spout opening at the base end thereof when in inoperative position. However, the disc 33 is applied partly for the sake of appearance and to obviate having the openingv through the spout visible from without as well as to'keep the in side of the spout clean and to serve as an added While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, it

is to be distinctly understood that the same isnot limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a container having a discharge opening, a spout having gasket means cooperating with the container adjacent the discharge opening and means cooperating with the container and gasket means for holding the spout in place, said last mentioned means and the container respectively simultaneously engaging the gasket means at points offset in a direction parallel to the gasket means.

2. In combination, a container having a discharge opening, a spout having gasket means cooperating with the container adjacent the discharge opening and means cooperating with the container and gasket means for holding the spout in place, said last mentioned means and the container having projecting meansadapted simultaneously to press against localized portions of the gasket means when the parts are assembled, said projecting means on said last mentioned means and the'container respectively being oflfset in a direction parallel to the gasket means when the parts are assembled.

3. In combination, a container having a discharge opening, aspout comprising a hollow delivery portion of sheet metal, an annular flange member disposed about said delivery portion and rigidly connected thereto, said flange member being of sheet metal of heavier gauge than the metal of the deliveryportion, and gasket means on both sides of said flange member, said gasket means on one side of said flange member cooperating with the container adjacent the discharge opening, and means cooperating with the container and engaging the gasket means on the other side of said flange member for holding the spout in place, said last mentioned means and the container respectively engaging the gasket means at points offset in a direction parallel to the gasket means.

4. A reversible metal spout for a container having a flange for cooperation with the mouth of the container and a gasket lying against said flange and permanently clinched in place by the metal of the spout.

5. A removable sheet metal spout for a container having a flange for cooperation with the mouth of the container and a gasket against such flange, the sheet metal at the base of the spout being bent back to hold the gasket in place.

6. A reversible spout for a container having a flange for cooperation with the mouth of the container and a gasket about the spout and against the flange, said gasket being maintained in place by a portion of the material of the spout bearing against the gasket opposite the flange.

'7. A reversible metal spout for a container having a flange for cooperation with the mouth of the container and a gasket about the spout and against the flange, a portion of the metal ofthe spout being pressed outwardly and engaging the gasket opposite the flange.

8. A sheet metal spout member outwardly curled at its base and having pennanently connected therewith an outwardly extending flange spaced a short distance from the base and a gasket interposed between the base and flange.

9. A container having an opening and a hollow neck-like portion surrounding the opening, such portion having at its outer end a part extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of the opening, such part having an outwardly facing sealing projection raised above the surface thereof and spaced inwardly from the outward extremity thereof.

10. A container having an opening and having the material surrounding such opening formed so as to extend generally parallel to the axis of the ppeningand with its outer portion turned inwardly generally toward the axis of the opening, such outer portion having an outwardly facing sealing projection raised above the surface thereof and spaced inwardly from the outward extremity thereof.

11. A container having an opening and a hollow' neck-like portion surrounding the opening and adapted for reception of a closure member, such portion having at its outer end a part extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of the opening, such part having an outwardly facing-sealing projection raised above the surface thereof and spaced'inwardly from the outward extremity thereof, and a closure member cooperating with said portion and having sealing means for engagement with said projection to seal the opening.

12. A container having an opening and a hollow neck-like portion surrounding the opening and adapted for reception of a closure member, such portion having at its outer end a part extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of the opening, such part having an outwardly facing sealing projection raised above the surface thereof and spaced inwardly from the outward extremity thereof, and a closure member cooperating with said portion and having a gasket engaging said projection at a portion of the gasket spaced inwardly from the edge thereof.

13. A container having an opening and a hollow externally threaded neck-like portion surrounding the opening, such portion having at its outer end a part extending generally perpendicu larly to the axis of the opening, such part having an outwardly facing sealing projection raised above the surface thereof and spacede inwardly from the outward extremity thereof, and a closure cap having an internally threaded skirt adapted for application to said portion and having therein a gasket engaging said projection at a portion of the gasket spaced inwardly from the edge thereof.

14. A container comprising a body having a dispensing opening therein and an externally threaded neck connected with the body and extending generally outwardly therefrom at said opening and adapted to have threaded thereon a closure or dispensing device, said neck having at its outer end a part extending generally perpendicularly to the axis of the opening, such part having an outwardly facing sealing projection raised above the surface thereof and spaced inwardly from the'outward extremity thereof and adapted to cooperate with a closure or dispensing device'threaded on said neck to assist in sealing the same thereto.

GUY O. CONNER.

protect the relatively soft gasket 29, as well as to keep the inside of the spout clean.

In Figure 3 the spout is shown in operative position. when the filled container is received by the customer the sealing wire 20 is broken and removed, the cap 13 is unscrewed and the spout is bodily lifted out and reversed. It is set in place, as shown in Figure 3, with the gasket 29 against the sealing portion I! at the mouth of the container and the cap 13 is put in place over the spout and screwed down to maintain the spout in place, the disc 33 not being used when the spout is in operative position. The customer will not ordinarily be provided with a tightening tool and'he will simply tighten down the cap by hand, resulting in application of considerably less pressure than is applied when the cap is initially screwed down by the use of'a tool when the container is first filled. As the gasket 23 is of softer material than the gasket 3i this enables the sealing portion I! to dig into the gasket somewhat even under the relatively low pressure and form a very effective seal. The bearing portion I5 of the cap bears against the relatively hard gasket 3|.

A modified embodiment of the spout, construction is shown in Figures lland 12. In such figures the main spout member or blank is shown at 35 and may be either of seamed construction as shown in Figure 10 or of seamless drawn construction. The member 35 is flanged outwardly at its base at 36130 form a gasket receiving flange 31. Spot welded at 38 to the under side of the flange 31 is a sheet metal member 39 which is originally of generally L shape, as indicated by the dotted lines 40 in Figure 11, and over which a gasket 41 is adapted to be slipped in place,

, after which the upstanding leg is turned down to the position shown at 42 to hold the gasket in place. Another gasket 43 is provided at the opposite side of the flange 31 and is maintained in place by projections 44 similar to the projections 32 shown in Figure 10. Y

A still further modified form is shown in Figure 13 in which the spoutmember is shown at 45 and has its foot stepped outwardly at 46 and having a fiat flange member 41 connected thereto, as by welding 48. The extremity of the spout member initially assumes the position shown in dotted lines at 49 in Figure 13 for the reception of a gasket 50, after which the same,is turned down, as at 5|, to maintain the gasket in place. Another gasket 52 at the opposite side of the flange member 41 is held in place by projections 53 similarly to the constructions previously described.

A still further modified construction is shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16. In general this form is similar to the form shown in Figures 2 and 3, and parts of the form shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16 corresponding respectively to the parts of the form shown in Figures 2 and 3 are designated by like reference numerals each having a prime afilxed.

In Figures 14, 15 and 16 the flange 28 is of sheet metal of heavier gauge than the metal of the delivery portion or spout proper 22', which feature is found to be important inlending to the structure the strength requisite for .the more severe uses to which the container and spout are put. It is found that if the flange is made of sufllciently heavy material the spout body may be made relatively very light and the desired strength is still obtained while effecting an importantsaving in material. For example, the spout body may be made of 30 gauge sheet metal while the flange is made of 24 gauge sheet metal. I have found that if the flange is made of metal somewhat heavier than would be used for the same conditions -11 the entire spout including the fiange'were made of metal of the same gauge, the spout body may be made of considerably lighter metal than such metal which would be used if the entire spout were made of metal of the same gauge so that there is a substantial saving in the total weight of metal used and at the same time no decrease, and in most cases even an increase, in the strength of the structure as a whole.

Likewise, the top of the cap H of the form of Figures 14 and 15 is constructed somewhat differently from the top of the cap I3 in the form of Figures 2 and 3. The inner downwardly extending annular bearing portion I5 is made relatively sharp and the metal extends therefrom outwardly and upwardly to a continuous annular peak 54 and thence outwardly and downwardly to a substantially fiat portion 55. When the cap I3 is applied the lower gasket will be engaged bythe upwardly facing annular sealing portion ll' formed at the mouth of the neck member H and the upper gasket, or the disc 33, as the case may be, is engaged by the relatively sharp bearing portion l5, and in certain cases, depending upon the extent to which the cap is screwed down, by the fiat portion 55. Whether the upper gasket or disc is engaged by one or both of the portions i5 and 55, the respective points of engagement of the portion of the spout assembly cooperating with the container and cap are ofi set in a direction parallel to the gaskets, as clearly appears from Figures 14 and 15. This results in a relatively resilient sealing of the container, as there may be some fiexure of the portion of the spout assembly engaged between the cap and container which enables the resisting of severe shocks without breaking the seal. I

It is found that the structure when embodying the relatively heavy flange and the oifset engaging portions on the container and cap described above will successfully withstand the extremely severe tests imposed by the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission for containers for use for transportation by rail of explosives and other dangerous articles. These tests are several times as severe as any conditions met with in ordinary use and include dropping and hydrostatic pressure tests imposing conditions the equivalent of which is seldom if ever encountered in use. However, as it is necessary in order that containers of the type here in question may be utilized in interstate commerce shipments that they meet the regulations of the Interstate Commerce Commission, the features mentioned are of great practical importance and value.

The lip end of the spout extends at an angle with respect to the body of the spout in the form shown in Figures 14 and 15, but this is a feature described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 43,070, filed of even date herewith.

The word flange is used in the claims as a l word of broad definition and not of limitation and is not intended to be strictly construed to apply only to a fiat annular sheet metal construction as shown in the drawings unless so limited by the context of any claim. 

